KARACHI: Pakistan’s first wind turbine project has been completed at a pilot investment of $130 million in Jamphir by Turkish firm on Wednesday with an initial capacity to generate 1.2 Mega Watt (MW) electricity. Zorlu Energy Group is scheduled to supply electricity to around 60,000 households by January 2009 on the agreed tariff of 4.2/Kilo per hour (Kph) to HESCO. Chief Executive Officer Zorlu Energy Group Murat Sungur Bursa said that minimal electricity tariff will be enhanced to 12.1 cents when the company soars its energy generation capacity up to 5MW as per its plans. “The tariff is lowest in the world but the firm has agreed with the regulators’ policy of tariff settlement of enhancing power building capacity,” he said at a press briefing ceremony. He said Pakistan has vibrant investment opportunities for power sector owing to its constant growing demand with the growth of population and industries. “In 162 million population there is a deficit of 30 percent electricity, which shows greater opportunity for any power producer,” he added. The turbine is 37-metre high with the 70-diameter that covers 200 metre total area of functioning. It is imported from Germany and manufactured in Czech Republic. The Turkish-made wind farm is situated at the wind coastal belt of Pakistan, that is, Gharo-Keti Bander having 12-month strong wind blowing corridor approved by Met Department. Briefing on the upcoming project developments, he said the plant will reach a capacity of 50 MW in the second phase with plans to increase the capacity up to 300 MW that is congruent to the energy capacity of Kanupp nuclear plant of the country. Zorlu Energy singed an agreement with the Pakistan Alternative Energy Development Board in 2006 to establish a wind farm. As per agreement, the firm will generate electricity for a period of 20 years in the country.

The other four turbines will be commissioned by the end of December 2008, hence providing 6 MW of energy for the first phase. However, the 29 tribunes with a capacity of 44 MW will be installed in the second phase by December 2009. On the occasion, Director General Board of Investment Karachi Arif Elahi said the country’s economy has been able to attract $1.321 billion FDI in the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2008-09.